Need a website to work for your business

With thousands of web designers to choose from how do you decide which one to go with? It is a crucial decision; the wrong choice could mean a long hard drawn out process resulting in an overpriced and unsuitable site. This is why I wanted to tell you about a web designer in Chorley that I can highly recommend.

Helen Hilton of Activ web design in Chorley is someone that will go that extra mile; I can honestly say that she cares about providing a great service to each and every one of her customers. She will take the time to get to know them and will work closely with them to design a website that matches their requirements and that they are happy with. Her friendly and approachable manner ensures that the customer is always comfortable asking her to make amendments both during the design process and afterwards as part of the on-going support she offers.

To top it off, this great service also comes at a great price. Unlike some other web designers in Chorley she keeps the pricing structure really simple and offers two packages, a brochure website for an all-inclusive price of £499 or an on line shop website for £999. This is really good value for money as it includes all you need to set up and run a professional website. It includes sorting out your domain name, setting up your email addresses and of course the actual design, which by the way has no limitations on the number of pages you want. Believe it or not, it also includes on-going support for the first year and she is happy to carry out as many minor amendments that you may need or to allow you access to the site so you can make changes, which she would also train you how to do.

When I caught up with Helen a while ago she explained to me what the process was to get a website up and running. I was surprised at just how quick it can be, we are talking a matter of days not months! As I mentioned earlier, Helen is a web designer in Chorley, she is happy to travel locally and discuss your requirements with no obligation to sign up. If you do decide to go ahead she explained to me that you would pay a 50% deposit, she would find out your requirements and then come up with an initial design usually within a week. Once you were happy with this design she would then complete the rest of the website and when you were completely happy with the website she would ask for the remaining balance and launch your website. It really is as easy as that!

I’ve recently been spending time looking at other peoples websites, it is quite amazing what some businesses deem a website, and wonder how this has (or even if) it has been designed.

Whilst I won’t mention any names, there are clearly some web design companies in Rushden whom are preying on unsuspecting businesses, whom are not computer literate, probably don’t have any clue about the internet either. These so called web design companies are taking their money and leaving their clients with very poor one or 2 page sites.

Trouble is the client has purchased the domain name, it usually relates directly to their business name and they don’t have any idea how to develop their business on-line. I think it is fair to say most web designers set the site up and leave their client to stumble along, charging the earth for simple updates. I know there are some web designers in Wellingborough whom look after their clients, after all a web site is probably going to become a businesses main marketing tool. It is vital that the website has been designed so it can actively be updated as the business grows.

Ask yourself this question:

What is a website for?

In most cases, particularly in relation to SME’s it is to showcase what a business does and are they any good at it. Let’s take a builder as an example, if I was the end client, what would I want to see in a website:

Are they local?

Do they do what I need?

Are they any good at it?

How do I contact them?

(price is of course very important, but a website isn’t always the best place to reveal this)

The most important one of these in my opinion is “are they any good at it?” Testimonials are oh so important, what have previous clients said about their service and quality.

So returning to the main point, there are many so called “websites” that do nothing of the sort, they are merely contact points, often with a generic message of what they offer, flowered up with useless information. In the case of a hairdresser’s site I saw recently, it talked of the importance of how the hair clippers were held by the technician – quite frankly who cares, it’s not important to the potential client.

There are so many businesses who believe they are stuck with websites that are detrimental to their business rather than showcasing them. It’s up to us, local web designers in Northamptonshire to educate our local businesses that using some of these unnamed services are pointless and in fact detrimental to their business.

Do you have a business in Bromley? Do you need a website? Have you considered designing your own website or have you considered hiring a professional web designer to do it for you? Before you decide to do it yourself you should consider whether or not you have the skills to do it. Do you have the necessary web technology experience and time to build a great looking professional website that will attract customers and make money for your business?

If you don’t have the time and skills then you should hire a professional web designer. The next step is to find a web designer in Bromley or in your area that will build you a quality website at an affordable price. To get a Web Design in Bromley referral from a colleague or a business that you have a good relationship with are a good place to start.

If you don’t know anyone who can refer or recommend a web designer you can look up Web Design in Bromley on the Internet where you will find many web design companies in your area. Choose one that has a fixed price web solution with no hidden charges and one that is willing to meet with you to discuss your requirements, the requirements of the business, design of the website and the costs involved. From this they will be able to use your ideas for the business to build your new website.

Low cost websites don’t give you that personal touch; they have many hidden charges and can cost you much more than a fixed price solution. Therefore when looking for Web Design in Bromley go for a local web designer with a fixed price who is prepared to come and see you to discuss your needs. If they understand the business then you can work closely with them to create a website that will benefit your business for many years to come.

For many small to medium businesses in Bromley web design is more about developing the correct website for you business than it is about having glitzy graphics or pretty logos. The design and style of a website should reveal the message it is trying to communicate to its visitors. Using flash animation can attract visitors to your site and make it look professional and interesting if used carefully. Don’t over do it if you are using flash on your website you should used it wisely so you do not irritate visitors who will click away from your site.

You should also keep in mind that no matter how good the graphics or content of a website are, if the pages of the website are not compatible with the major Web Browsers your website will not be successful in attracting visitors. Your website should be compatible with the following browsers.

Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Netscape.

Search Engine Optimization for Web Design in Bromley is used to make your website more searchable and to give you a higher rating within a search engine browser. This is done by adding keywords like Web Design in Bromley into the text of the website which search engines can easily locate and display the information to the person who is searching the Internet. A good Web Designer will add content that repeat keywords several times in a distinctive way so that a search engine will show the site as being more fitting than another site because of the result of a specific word or phrase.

Another important consideration to keep in mind when you are designing a website is who will maintain it afterwards? If you search for Web Design in Bromley you will see a number of good web designers in your area. Choose a web designer who is prepared to come and see you, one you can build up a relationship with so that you can discuss your current and future needs.

Statistics just released in October 2011 by the UK ONS (Office of National statistics) show that internet shopping accounted for 9.6% of retail sales in the UK for September 2011, in real terms this equated to

£539.4 million per week compared to £415.9 million for the same period in 2010.

A year on year increase of 29.6%, can you imagine where the figure will be next year?

How much money are you losing each week to your competition simply because you don’t offer 1 in 10 of your customers a platform to buy your products? Ask yourself how much money the major retailers spend in marketing and research to achieve a 0.2% increase in market share…….

If you do not currently have an online shop then you have a fantastic opportunity to reach a massive ten percent of the market which you are currently missing out on, that’s right there is ten percent of the market in Clwyd who cannot buy from you because your online shop in Clwyd is closed.

If the trend was to replicate itself in 2012 then the ten percent market which you cannot buy from you will increase to a massive 13.7 percent with an incredible £770 million to spend online each week, how much has it already cost you by not having an online shop, just think how much your competition has benefited from the fact that they did not have to worry about competing with you, simply by the fact that you did not have an online shop in Clwyd

The good news is that it is really easy to get yourself up and running, trading on line and earning profits that are simply not available to your business today. The first and most profitable decision you should make is to get in contact with your local web designer in Clwyd from this point you have just decided to be part of the Ecommerce world, customers that could not deal with you now can, revenue streams can flow and profits can be made.

I’m sure you know what your business does, but my question is a little different; it’s about knowing the identity of your business. When you are able to answer this fully it will allow you to move forward into new and challenging markets by empowering you and your business in a number of ways:

It facilitates your shift from a features based sales plan to benefits driven offering. This helps the relationship between you and your client base by visualising how it will help their business. A well structured web site with clear messages from Activ Web Design in Kettering will get this clear message across.

It improves your efficiency by allowing you to focus on the aspects of your business that define it, which are likely to be those you are particularly strong in. For example as a plumber you might be able to ‘do’ the tiling but is it really your strength and will it really show your business in its best light?

It allows you to talk with confidence about your USPs.

Your clients will have a clear vision of what you offer and why they should utilise your services

It will increase your repeat orders through demonstrating excellence within that arena.

These are the things that will help you grow your business beyond your current standings. If you can identify and communicate what the most important benefit is to your customers and focus your business on delivering this, your business will grow. This is something the major retailers have done very well. The features are that they have a broad range of choice at great prices. The benefit is that their customer can clearly identify this and will become loyal shoppers as they recognise the time and cost savings they will achieve.

With the global commercial setting we live in increasing by the day, there are very few, if any, USPs that still exist. Market globalisation and the internet in particular have opened up such a proliferation of opportunities that being unique is no longer possible. As a result, being better and more focused than your competitors is even more important. It may be that this is the right time to consider an on-line shop from Activ Web Design in Kettering to open up new retail avenues in that global market place.

With the benefits to your customers clearly identified, it is then important that you deliver what you promised. Surprisingly it is as simple as this; promise a service and deliver it. There is a lot of rubbish talked about under promising and over delivering but in reality promising and delivering is the key to success, as this will fully manage your clients’ expectations. Failing to meet their expectations is never going to be great, but equally if you give them something they didn’t ask for, then they may feel that they have not received good value as they overpaid for what they did want.

Whilst it is important that you identify what your business is, it is important that you work closely with your marketing partner and your web designer, Activ Web Design in Kettering , to ensure that you communicate your messages clearly and help your clients understand the benefits of working with you rather than your competitor. Since we are competing in a global market place, then it is important for you to be part of it, your competitors are certainly active in that arena. If you are not, then it is probably time you considered a web site from Activ Web Design in Kettering

So next time you think about a marketing strategy, don’t just think about the services you offer, think about how it adds value and benefits your clients.

Commissioning a website is one of the most important decisions you can take for your business. Although it is possible to do it yourself, do you really have the time to produce a professional site? There are many companies proficient with web design in Leighton Buzzard, leaving you to concentrate on your own business, but you do need to think the what, and the who, that is, what are you are going to put onto your website, and who you are targeting to access it. Inevitably, one is intrinsically linked with the other.

What (content)

The wealth of content available to websites today is vast, including video, sound, slideshows, graphics, pictures and text. However, what you put onto it should be determined by who your market is. Think what your customers would want to see on a web site, and have a look at what your competitors are offering. Think customers first. Your local web designer in Leighton Buzzard can advise you on the best approach, and will help you design a site appropriate for your business. Websites should be easy to follow, and easy on the eye – cluttered websites only encourage users to move on to your competitors’ sites. Most importantly, think of your business first – what would make you want to buy from your website?

Who

This is as important and goes hand in hand with ‘what’. Obviously, you want the largest audience you can get, but think about who is likely to go the further step and transact with you. Factors to think about include value vs. quality; mass appeal vs. exclusivity; and demographics. If your business is in fine china, there is probably little point in trying to aim at the teenage market. Again, your local web designer can help you, and work with you to optimize your potential audience. People today expect your business to have a website like they would expect it to have a telephone.

Think about your business. Before the days of the world wide web (www), think about how your business marketed itself. If you are a restaurant, this was (and still is) by reputation. Think about information. What kind of information does your restaurant convey? Not just a list of menu items and prices, but ambience, location, setting. Think about what makes your restaurant unique. What is its cutting edge? How do you get that across to your customers? Before the www this was a combination of word of mouth, local press advertising, a magazine or newspaper feature, leaflet drops, and just posting a menu outside the restaurant. Think. A website can provide all of these things 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Think about web design in Leighton Buzzard.

Who needs a website anyway?

“I don’t need a website.”

Really? Do you use printed literature of any type? If so, why? Printed marketing material is expensive, and can only be used once. A website is perpetually available, and web design in Leighton Buzzard is a cost effective solution.

“I have enough customers.”

The most successful businesses on the planet are always striving for new customers. Complacency is not an option in today’s world; all businesses strive to reach the biggest market they can, and it is a never ending process. A website reaches out to every person who has access to the Internet, and web design in Leighton Buzzard is your route to tapping that market.

“I have run the business successfully for years without a website.”

That’s great. However, have you stuck to the same modus operandi since you started the business? Very few have. Businesses need to be dynamic in order to continue to thrive and grow. A website is not a luxury any more. It is, in fact, an essential tool in any business’s armoury.

Activ Web Design has its roots in Leicestershire, a vibrant county and home to many diverse communities and local and national attractions such as the National Space Centre, the new Curve Theatre, Donington Park – the venue for the World renowned annual ‘Download’ Rock Festival and motorcycle races, and East Midlands Airport (yes, it really is in Leicestershire!)

With superb transport links and only an hour-and-a-half away from the Capital it is the perfect place for small and medium sized businesses to either re-locate or start up.

Within its heart is Leicester, a lively and energetic city – the first outside London to have it’s own Elected Mayor, who is passionate about generating new opportunities for business. Activ Web Design in Leicester wants to be a part of this challenge.

While many new businesses know their market, many are unsure how to maximise their online presence. This is where Activ Web Design in Leicester can help. A truly focused website, tailored to the needs of that business and the people it wishes to attract, is so important.

Many websites are designed purely from the business aspect, rather than seeing it from their customers’ perspective. Activ Web Design in Leicester focuses on attracting your new and existing customers to the website – you can have the best, most whizzy website in the world, but if people are not visiting it then it counts for little.

In addition, more and more people are now shopping on line and Activ Web Design in Leicester also has the perfect package for those businesses who want to sell their goods or services through an online shop.

Activ Web Design in Leicester will keep things simple – we will take away the technical jargon that no-one understands – and provide you with a website or online shop that is integral to the success of your company – and all for a fixed price of £499 or £999 respectively.

As a business owner, have you ever considered how much you spend on traditional advertising – things like adverts in local journals, leaflets, business listings, and the like? Activ Web Design in Leicester would like you to think how much more you could gain from this type of advertising if you could also include a website address?

Imagine you are a local cafe – you have premises in the local town but you want to expand into providing catering for private and corporate events. Your advertising gives potential customers a phone number to ring and yes, they can pop in to see you in the shop – but you are always very busy with people wanting tea and cake. Activ Web Design in Leicester has the solution for you.

Activ Web Design in Leicester can help you to create a website which will give your potential customers instant access and information about things such as menus, cost, availability and delivery arrangements. You will be able to instantly whet their appetite by showing photos or videos of your food, so they can virtually sample what’s on offer.

Think of the time this will save you and your new client. You can still devote time to customers in your shop and your client won’t have to spend valuable time driving around trying to find a catering service, or trying to phone and never getting an answer. They can place an order while still sitting at their desk or in their armchair.

Think how much money this will save you – perhaps you no longer need a full page advert, explaining the services you can provide – half the size will do to signpost people to your website.

And finally … think of the money this will make you – with a small investment of just £499 with Activ Web Design in Leicester new orders are being placed and your business is expanding – it’s as easy as pie!